WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian hackers who penetrated sensitive parts of the White House computer system last year read President Barack Obama’s unclassified emails, the New York Times reported yesterday, quoting US officials.
“There is no evidence that the president’s email account itself was hacked, White House officials said. Still, the fact that some of Mr. Obama’s communications were among those retrieved by hackers has been one of the most closely held findings of the inquiry,” the paper said.
A White House spokeswoman declined to comment on the report but the White House earlier this month confirmed the breach, saying it took place last year and that it did not affect classified information.
The New York Times said yesterday the breach had been “far more intrusive and worrisome than has been publicly acknowledged.”
It said that although no classified networks had been compromised, officials conceded that the unclassified system still contains highly sensitive information such as email exchanges with diplomats, exchanges about personnel moves and legislation, presidential schedules and discussion about policy.
